BIOLOGICAL/ECHOLOGICAL APPROACH
The Biological and Ecological approach of anthropology studies the relation among the population dynamics , social organization, and culture of human populations, and the environments which they live. Environment and genetics play a large part in this category of study. Biological Anthropology takes this comparative approach in terms of human evolution and adaptation. This approach compares humans and other animals to understand human uniqueness and biological continuity. Using comparisons of this data over time allows anthropologists to unravel the evolutionary history of human beings. Using Biology and Ecology anthropologists can recognize significant correlations in the population and apply them to those suffering from the illness. Case Study A study was done to observe impairment within specific anxiety disorders. The study assessed the temporal associations of impairment and symptoms of three common anxiety disorders in a large, diagnostically heterogeneous clinical sample.Method Data were collected from 606 treatment-seeking individuals at an anxiety clinic, most of whom subsequently enrolled in cognitive-behavioral therapy.Symptoms of panic, social anxiety andgeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD), as well as levels of impairment, were assessed three times over 2 years. The study also observed the longitudinal associations of anxiety symptoms and impairment using the latent growth modeling technique. Results showed that those with a principal diagnosis of GAD reported higher levels of impairment in some domains at baseline. Although, follow-up assessments with individuals suffering from social anxiety disorder reported greater impairment than those with panic disorder. Anxiety symptoms and impairment both decreased over time. Change in all three anxiety symptoms was closely associated with change in impairment, but only GAD remained a significant (positive) predictor of change in impairment after accounting for co-morbidity. After observing the results of this study it is clear that a patient suffering from an anxiety disorder should primarily focus on treating GAD symptoms first. |
In reference to class materials I found the article "How Race Becomes Biology: Embodiment of Social Inequality" very intriguing. Focusing on racial inequalities in health the article gives a different perspective on how we can use this as an opportunity to alter the idea of race. The article touches on how we relate race to biology and is a great expression of the biological/ecological approach of medical anthropology. The figure located on the right is a graph comparing infant mortality rates in the United States by race from the years 1995-2004. From the graph we can conclude that race does play a part in this biological matter of infant mortality because black, non-hipanics had a significantly higher rate compared to others.
Another article from class titled "Evolutionary and Ecological Perspectives" gives an explanation of how medical anthropologists are expanding their horizons on human health in environmental terms. The human biologists, medical ecologists, and medical practitioners have all joined forces with epidemiologists, medical geographers and medical historians with intentions to promote a new synthesis the anthropological study of health. Both new and old methods are reviewed concerning ecological and evolutionary perspectives in medical anthropology. This important in the world of medical anthropology because, new ideas and perspectives are crucial to advance health care and treatments. Biologically, Anxiety acts quickly on the body. It activates the autonomic nervous system causing the "fight or flight" response to take place. This response causes the body to express physical symptoms such as panic attacks, fast pulse, palpitations, shallow breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain/tightness, sweating etc. There is a diagram above showing all of the physical symptoms stress exudes on the body. All of these symptoms are the result of adrenaline and other hormones being released in our bodies causing stress. Overwhelming and constant amounts of stress can cause extreme anxiety. After these symptoms are experienced the body`s parasympathetic nervous system works overtime to calm the body down and restore equilibrium. In terms of Ecology and culture this disorder has a lot to do with people`s interactions and experiences in their environment. Environments that are more stressful mean more anxiety. It is always important to view the patients entire lifestyle and who they interact with on a daily basis to determine the root of their stress. I believe all cultures are stressful to an extent ,but some cultures may put more pressure on a person. For example, in Western culture we are very focused on money and social status. A person living in Western culture that is not wealthy will most likely feel more stressed and prone to anxiety. The biological, ecological, and cultural aspects are all equally important when a medical anthropologist is studying an illness. Medical anthropologists look at a the big picture. By exploring all angles when determining why some communities may be more prone to anxiety disorders than others medical anthropologists are one step closer to creating a solution. |
Sources:
Anxiety Care UK. "The Biological Effects and Consequences of Anxiety". Accessed August 13, 2013. http://www.anxietycare.org.uk/docs/biologicaleffects.aspMakkar,
Gravlee, Clarence. "How Race Becomes Biology: Embodiment of Social Inequality". Accessed August 13, 2013. http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us13/files/2012/06/Gravlee-How-Race-Becomes-Biology-Embodiment-of-Social-Inequality.pdf
Orlove, Benjamin. "JSTOR: Annual Review of Anthropology" Accessed August 13, 2013. http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2155736?
Ranjodh. "Anxiety Disease and its Homeopathic Treatment". Accessed August 13, 2013. http://askdrmakkar.com/anxiety.htm
Anxiety Care UK. "The Biological Effects and Consequences of Anxiety". Accessed August 13, 2013. http://www.anxietycare.org.uk/docs/biologicaleffects.aspMakkar,
Gravlee, Clarence. "How Race Becomes Biology: Embodiment of Social Inequality". Accessed August 13, 2013. http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us13/files/2012/06/Gravlee-How-Race-Becomes-Biology-Embodiment-of-Social-Inequality.pdf
Orlove, Benjamin. "JSTOR: Annual Review of Anthropology" Accessed August 13, 2013. http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2155736?
Ranjodh. "Anxiety Disease and its Homeopathic Treatment". Accessed August 13, 2013. http://askdrmakkar.com/anxiety.htm